The Anambra government says it is fully enforcing the provisions of the law to stamp out street trading, indiscriminate dumping of refuse, open defecation and urinating in unauthorised places.

Celestine Anere, the managing director of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Awka.

Mr Anere said the enforcement was to protect the environment and ensure that buying and selling activities were taken off the roads and into market areas designed for such.

“The ’ember’ months is a period of increased economic activities heralding the yuletide season; many traders may be tempted to leave their shops and trade on major roads to make brisk businesses.

“This is what necessitated the enforcement; I am appealing to traders to conduct their transactions inside the markets because defaulters will be arrested and their goods confiscated by officers of OCHA,” said Mr Anere.

He said the state was also prepared to step up enforcement against refuse dumping, open defecation, and urinating in parks and walkways.

“Individuals who will host different social events this season should endeavour to provide temporary or mobile toilets for their guests to mitigate open defecation.

“The host of the event will be sanctioned when such laws are flouted during such gatherings,” he said.

Mr Anere urged residents to be well informed about the state environmental laws to avoid punishment.

(NAN)